Donkey driving in New Zealand is fast growing into a very popular activity with participating in fun drives, showing and combined driving trials.

Right: A tandem. Jackie Bryant competing in a dressage test.

Left: Bryan Clausen driving BJ's Wilson, One of our leading harness donkeys at A & P shows Photo: David Matthews

Almost all donkeys enjoy being driven and accept the training readily. They are not ponies and they are not as fast or dynamic as ponies but they are willing, safe in traffic, not easily spooked, capable of quite long distances at a steady trot and quite responsive.

They can be trained up to be driven competitively with ponies at carriage driving events but they really excel at trips with the family and the family dog to the dairy, giving rides at birthday parties or gala days, Driving for the Disabled activities - situations where their calm temperament means that there is rarely any trouble even when the most alarming things happen.

Donkeys can be driven as singles (on their own) or as multiples; a pair (two side by side), a tandem (two, one in front of the other), a team (two pairs, one in front of the other), a unicorn (three, a pair with a single in front). Some of these combinations are shown in the photo at the top of this page.

Left: Pemberton Don Giovanni; right: Jasmine Mr Darcy. They are the first donkeys to upgrade to Preliminary grade in dressage and competing against ponies and horses.